By Cristie Gardner

Recently, our four-year-old granddaughter was trying hard to express something she wanted very much: extra playtime when it was clearly time for rest. She was doing her best to communicate her case but lacked the words to persuade her parents that her plan (at least in her mind) made perfect sense. When her message wasn’t getting through, she stamped her foot in frustration and burst out, “I want to do it NOW!”

Her parents handled it with kindness and firmness. They lovingly picked her up and carried her to her room, listening with patience as they helped her name her feelings.

Since that moment, I’ve thought about how much I’m like that four-year-old when I want something I’ve been working toward—a goal, a plan, a dream—to happen NOW. I want the money now, the trip now, the vision realized now. I’ve done the work, said the prayers, dreamed the dream. Why isn’t it here yet?

That’s where the Law of Gestation comes in.

Just like you can’t plant a tomato seed and expect to eat a tomato the next day, dreams take time to develop. Even literal seeds require an incubation period before they sprout. The evolution of anything—an idea, a plan, or a physical creation—takes time, nurturing, and the right conditions.

Some timelines we understand well. After eight children, I know it takes about nine months to grow a baby. An elephant? Try 18 to 22 months! Lettuce might take just a few weeks. A redwood tree, though? You and I won’t be around to see it reach full maturity.

We’ve figured out the gestation period for animals and plants, but when it comes to ideas and dreams, the timeline is rarely so clear. That makes it tricky—and often frustrating. The dream feels vivid, exciting, and life-changing. You want it now. You see the difference it would make, and you’re ready. But it still requires time.

Even a road trip takes time. You can’t just wish yourself across the country—you need gas, a route, maybe even some snacks! And goals are no different. They require preparation, planning, and patience. There’s a natural order to how things come to be, and we need to honor that process.

It’s not always easy. But when we’ve done our part—when we’ve “prepped the soil” and created the right environment for growth—we have to trust that the rest will unfold in its time. Maya Angelou once said, “All great achievements require time.”

We have a family joke about this law. When our kids were little and we were on long drives, the classic question came up like clockwork: “How much longer until we get there?” Eventually, my husband Stan gave up trying to predict it. He just started saying, “Four more hours.” No matter how much time had passed, it was always, “Four more hours.” The kids got the message: we’ll get there when we get there. We’re on the road. We’ve got gas. The map’s good. Until then, let’s enjoy the ride.

And that’s what the Law of Gestation is about—aligning with time instead of fighting it.

Stephen Covey wove this principle into his Seven Habits of Highly Effective People:

1. Be Proactive

2. Begin with the End in Mind

3. Put First Things First

4. Think Win-Win

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

6. Synergize

7. Sharpen the Saw

When we lived in Billings, Montana, we began dreaming of designing and building our own home. We searched for land, set a plan, made a budget, and sketched out a layout we’d been imagining for 20 years. We knew what we wanted: large windows, a cozy office near the front entrance, a spacious kitchen where everyone could cook together, and a great room where we could gather. We wanted space for our children to study, a fireplace to warm the family room, room to garden, and a quiet, star-filled sky at night.

We planted that dream and let it gestate. Bit by bit, it came together.

Eventually, we discovered a piece of property—23.5 acres—for an astonishing $69,000. Just north of it, one-acre plots were going for $25,000 apiece. We tested the land, applied for permits, and found, to our amazement, not one, but two natural springs. The water was good. The location perfect. We found a contractor whose past clients recommended him highly. We drew up our design and had it finalized by an architect.

And then the building began.

Some parts unfolded as planned. Others were happy surprises. We built a root cellar under the porch—something we hadn’t even thought of until construction revealed the space. We bartered a half-acre of land for road construction with a neighbor, which led to a friendship and a win-win arrangement. Bit by bit, our home came to life.

We named our road Legacy Lane. And for years, we lived there in deep gratitude.

This experience taught us the importance of being crystal clear about what we want and taking the right actions to bring it to life. As Covey’s second habit says: “Begin with the End in Mind.” Once your destination is clear, you know what to aim for. You’re not constantly asking, “How much longer?” You know where you’re going—and that you’ll get there.

During the building process, we took pictures, made adjustments, listened to our contractor’s suggestions, and stuck to the vision. The process became something beautiful.

As one anonymous quote says, “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”

We poured the foundation. We built the walls. While the builders worked, we dug trenches and laid a sprinkler system. We handled hiccups with as much grace as we could muster, knowing the process was unfolding—even if not exactly on our timetable.

As David Allen said: “Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in your mind.”

And that’s one of the most valuable lessons the Law of Gestation offers: sometimes the result is even better than what we imagined. We just have to trust the timing—and the process.

So if you're pursuing a dream, here’s how to align yourself with the Law of Gestation:

1. Prepare: Gather your materials. Seek guidance. Study. Create your roadmap. Get your supplies. Plan your budget.

2. Take action: Do as much as YOU can to move your dream forward.

3. Practice patience: Reevaluate and adjust as needed. You can even modify or abandon the goal if it no longer aligns. You always have the power of choice.

4. Allow for divine timing: As Aristotle said, “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.”

Once your dream becomes reality, express gratitude—to God, to others, to yourself. Gratitude is fuel for future goals. Instead of focusing on what’s missing, celebrate what you’ve received.

Napoleon Hill said, “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”

And here's a little couplet I wrote to remind myself of my role in partnering with God:

“Oh may I say, each end of day,
Dear Lord, I did my best.
Though measure small, I gave my all.”
Then leave to Him the rest.

Let your dream grow. Let it take root. Tend to it with faith, action, and patience. And trust—always trust—that it’s on its way.

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